DoSEL Launches Three-Year Plan for a Tobacco- and Drug-Free School System

The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, has unveiled a comprehensive national strategy aimed at creating tobacco-free and substance-free educational environments across India. The initiative was announced during a National Meet held in New Delhi on 29 May 2026, ahead of World No Tobacco Day, where government officials, school leaders, teachers, and representatives from educational institutions gathered to review progress and chart the future course of action.

The programme coincided with the recognition of winning schools under the MyGov Innovate Campaign titled “Towards a Tobacco-Free Generation: School Challenge 2025.” During the event, the Ministry also launched a Three-Year Action Plan (2026–2029) under the Nasha Mukt Bharat initiative and introduced the Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya (NMV) Portal, which will serve as a national platform for monitoring and promoting substance-free educational institutions.

The initiative reflects growing concern about tobacco and substance use among young people and highlights the role of schools as powerful institutions for prevention, awareness, and behavioural change. With India's education system reaching nearly 24.69 crore children and indirectly influencing millions of households, policymakers believe schools can become the foundation of a nationwide movement against tobacco and substance abuse.

Schools Positioned at the Centre of India's Tobacco-Free Movement

At the event, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, Shri Sanjay Kumar, emphasized the enormous influence schools have in shaping attitudes, behaviours, and health outcomes among young people.

More than 17,000 schools from across the country participated in the School Challenge 2025 initiative, demonstrating growing awareness of the need to create healthier educational environments. According to officials, the response illustrates the willingness of educational institutions to actively contribute to public health goals and social transformation.

The Ministry believes that schools occupy a unique position within Indian society because they interact not only with students but also with parents, families, and local communities. Through this extensive network, schools have the potential to spread awareness about the dangers of tobacco and substance abuse far beyond classroom walls.

Officials highlighted that educational institutions can play a crucial role in demand reduction strategies by promoting awareness, encouraging behavioural change, and supporting preventive interventions. Rather than focusing solely on enforcement measures, the government's approach seeks to address the social and behavioural factors that often lead young people toward substance use.

Teachers were identified as particularly important stakeholders in this effort. Since educators interact with students on a daily basis, they are often among the first adults capable of recognizing behavioural changes, emotional distress, or warning signs associated with substance use. Early identification and intervention can help prevent more serious problems from developing later in life.

The Ministry emphasized that creating tobacco-free schools requires a comprehensive approach that combines awareness programmes, supportive learning environments, parental engagement, and community participation. By fostering healthy habits from an early age, schools can contribute significantly to reducing future tobacco consumption and substance abuse rates across the country.

The initiative also aligns with broader national goals of improving public health, enhancing educational outcomes, and creating a healthier workforce for the future. Policymakers believe that reducing tobacco and substance use among youth can have long-term benefits extending far beyond individual health, including economic productivity, healthcare cost reductions, and improved social well-being.

New Three-Year Action Plan Introduces Comprehensive Framework

A central feature of the initiative is the Three-Year Action Plan covering the period from 2026 to 2029. The strategy is built around four major interventions designed to create sustainable and measurable change within the education system.

The first pillar involves the newly launched Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya Portal. This digital platform will enable schools to conduct self-assessments, submit declarations regarding compliance with tobacco- and substance-free guidelines, and participate in ongoing monitoring processes. The portal will also integrate with the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), ensuring systematic data collection and accountability.

The second pillar focuses on enforcing a 500-metre drug-free zone around educational institutions. This measure seeks to create safer environments by limiting access to tobacco products and other substances in areas surrounding schools. Authorities believe that reducing physical availability near educational institutions can significantly strengthen prevention efforts.

The third component involves integrating age-appropriate substance abuse prevention and health education into school curricula. Educational content will be incorporated into NCERT, CBSE, and State Board learning materials, ensuring that students receive scientifically accurate information about the risks associated with tobacco and substance use.

Rather than relying on occasional awareness campaigns, the curriculum-based approach aims to embed prevention education into regular learning processes. This ensures sustained exposure to health information throughout students' academic journeys.

The fourth intervention focuses on developing standardized multilingual Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials. These resources will support awareness campaigns among teachers, students, and parents while ensuring consistency of messaging across different regions and linguistic communities.

Together, these four interventions create a structured framework that combines education, monitoring, prevention, and community engagement. Officials believe this integrated approach will increase the effectiveness of anti-tobacco and anti-substance-abuse efforts while providing schools with practical tools for implementation.

Teacher Training, Mental Health Support and Early Intervention Prioritized

One of the most significant aspects of the strategy is its emphasis on capacity building and mental health support. Policymakers recognize that preventing substance abuse requires more than awareness campaigns alone; it also requires trained personnel capable of identifying risks and providing appropriate support.

The action plan includes extensive teacher training programmes covering both pre-service and in-service education. Future teachers entering the profession as well as currently serving educators will receive guidance on identifying behavioural warning signs, supporting student well-being, and responding effectively to potential substance-related concerns.

This focus on teacher empowerment reflects growing recognition that educators often serve as frontline observers of student behaviour. By equipping teachers with appropriate knowledge and skills, schools can strengthen their ability to identify at-risk students before problems escalate.

Mental health support forms another critical component of the initiative. The programme incorporates services available through Manodarpan, the national mental health support platform, including access to counselling and guidance resources. Officials highlighted the importance of addressing emotional and psychological challenges that may contribute to substance use among adolescents.

Research consistently shows that factors such as stress, anxiety, social pressure, and emotional difficulties can increase vulnerability to tobacco and substance use. By strengthening mental health support systems, the Ministry hopes to address underlying causes rather than simply responding to symptoms.

The strategy also includes mechanisms for early identification and referral of at-risk students. Schools will be encouraged to develop supportive systems that enable timely intervention while protecting student privacy and dignity. The goal is to provide assistance before substance use becomes deeply entrenched or leads to more serious health and social consequences.

Officials stressed that successful implementation requires collaboration among teachers, parents, counsellors, healthcare providers, and community organizations. A coordinated approach can ensure that students receive comprehensive support across different aspects of their lives.

The Ministry believes that integrating mental health, behavioural support, and substance abuse prevention creates a more holistic model for student well-being and development.

Strong Policy Support and Community Participation Key to Success

The initiative builds upon a broader framework of government policies aimed at reducing tobacco consumption and promoting public health. During the event, officials highlighted several measures already implemented by the Government of India, including the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) of 2003, the ban on electronic cigarettes introduced in 2019, and the imposition of high GST rates and cess on tobacco products.

These legislative and fiscal measures have established an important policy foundation for tobacco control. However, officials noted that regulatory approaches alone are insufficient. Sustained awareness, education, and community engagement remain essential for achieving lasting behavioural change.

The Ministry also referenced findings from the World Health Organization's Global Youth Tobacco Survey, which underscore the importance of early prevention efforts. Evidence indicates that interventions targeting children and adolescents can significantly reduce the likelihood of tobacco use later in life.

To strengthen implementation, the Department had previously developed the Manual for Implementation of TOFEI Guidelines in Schools in 2024. This resource provides schools and state authorities with practical guidance on compliance, awareness generation, and enforcement measures.

The National Meet also featured expert panel discussions examining tobacco prevention, substance abuse awareness, mental well-being, and behavioural change strategies. Participants emphasized that effective prevention requires collective action involving schools, families, communities, civil society organizations, and government institutions.

Recognition of successful schools formed another important element of the programme. Twelve schools were honoured across four educational categories—Foundational, Preparatory, Middle, and Secondary—with cash awards and trophies. An additional 41 schools received appreciation prizes for their contributions toward creating healthier educational environments.

Officials hope that celebrating successful models will encourage wider participation and inspire other institutions to adopt similar initiatives.

Ministry envisions the tobacco-free and substance-free schools movement evolving into a nationwide social campaign. By leveraging the reach of India's education system, policymakers aim to create lasting cultural change that extends beyond school campuses into homes and communities across the country.

The Three-Year Action Plan represents a significant step toward that goal. Through a combination of policy support, educational interventions, technological monitoring, teacher training, mental health services, and community participation, the initiative seeks to protect young people from the harmful effects of tobacco and substance abuse while contributing to the broader vision of a healthier, more productive, and more developed India.